Replacing Marcus Lattimore is a tall order and South Carolina announced that Mike Davis will get the first shot at filling the former All-SEC back's big shoes.

Assistant coach Everette Sands said Tuesday that Davis will start the opener Thursday, Aug. 29 against North Carolina.

Watch This

"We'll see all three (Davis, Brandon Wilds, Shon Carson), but right now Mike is a little bit ahead," Sands said. "He's going to be the starter. But those guys know they're going to play. We have to have all three of them to be as successful as we can be."

Last season, Davis was fourth on the team in rushing with 275 yards and 52 carries (5.3 yards per run) and added two touchdowns. Carson and Wilds both were sidelined with injuries last season. Wilds missed the whole season and was redshirted after suffering a high ankle sprain and Carson returned for the Outback Bowl after injuring his wrist and missing the entire regular season.

"(Mike) made a few more plays in the scrimmages," Sands added.

Lattimore led the Gamecocks in rushing last season with 662 yards in nine games before suffering his second major knee injury against Tennessee. He ran for 2,677 yards and 38 touchdowns in three seasons in Columbia, S.C.